Dovecote Events Wedding Photographer

Dovecote Events is a family-owned wedding and events company based on the Bo Peep Farm in Adderbury, Oxfordshire.  I’ve made a couple of visits to the venue this year – once in March and again in July – so I thought I’d share my impressions of the site, along with some photos I took while working as a Dovecote Events wedding photographer.

One of the first things that strikes you about Dovecote Events is its beautiful, tranquil setting.

As you travel along the half-mile (or so) driveway from the entrance to the main building, you also get a sense of the scale of the property, which comprises some 85 acres of Oxfordshire countryside.

If you’re up for an adventure, there’s definitely scope for capturing some stunning portraits with your Dovecote Events wedding photographer.

Towards the end of the drive, the road opens up to grassland on either side, this area is typically used for guest parking at weddings.

Ahead of this you see the main business premises and beyond that you get your first glimpse of the Dovecote barn.

Beautiful historic barn | Oxfordshire wedding photography

Dovecote barn is an 18th century Grade II listed barn, recently renovated to host weddings and events.

If you’re planning a small-to-midsize celebration – with up to 120 guests – the barn is a great option, particularly if you’d like your wedding to have an intimate atmosphere.

Like most barns, it has a fairly rustic appearance, both inside and out. Inside you’ll find red brick walls and mixed tone wooden floors and beams. Together these give a fairly warm tone to your wedding photos.

Whether you’re hosting your wedding in the barn or not, it’s still a great location for some creative portraits with your Dovecote Events wedding photographer. I’ve got loads of new ideas I’d like to create inside and outside the barn when I next get to shoot at the venue.

Wedding barn, marquee and giant tipi

The barn is one of two options available from Dovecote Events. You can use barn and attached marquee for everything (ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception) or use it in combination with a tipi.

Whatever you decide, there’s a good chance you’ll be using the bar and courtyard area attached to the barn for some part of your day.

Outside the courtyard garden and bar, Dovecote has created a paved road and walkway leading down from the main drive into the property. If you’re getting married at another location, this allows you to make a grand entrance, alighting from your wedding car to greet awaiting guests.

It’s also a perfect spot to assemble guest for a confetti tunnel with your Dovecote Events wedding photographer.

Purpose built confetti drive |Oxford wedding photographer

Love them or hate them, family and group photos usually feature to some extent at most weddings and Dovecote Events has made group photo a fairly painless process, thanks to its planting and landscaping around the bar and courtyard.

When  I was last working as a Dovecote Events wedding photographer, I was able to whip through the groups in record time for that very reason.

I should perhaps caveat that statement by saying that many of the trees on the site, including the courtyard area, are deciduous so this will only be true from spring to autumn. Here’s a photo of how the area looks in March.

Festival weddings at Dovecote Events | Oxford wedding photos

For festival style weddings, Dovecote Events has its own giant tipi available for your wedding reception. The tipi occupies a sheltered location on the Bo Peep farm and features three large interlinked tipis including, a spacious bar and dance floor area.

The tipi’s interior is decorated with tungsten bulb chandeliers and similarly coloured fairy lights, which combine to create a warm tone to both your celebrations and your photography.

If you’re getting married during the summer months, I’d recommend air con if possible as it gets incredibly hot under the canvas. It wasn’t too bad for me as I was walking around but quite a few guests were cooking.

Outside the tipi, you’ll find a baby chill-out tipi and fully equipped toilet facilities. All of this is surrounded by acres of breath-taking Oxfordshire countryside.

As far as I’m aware, only the barn at Dovecote Events is licensed for wedding ceremonies; there isn’t an option to get married in the tipi. Fortunately, Dovecote Barn is included in the price of the tipi hire.

The barn can accommodate 120 for your ceremony, before continuing celebrations at the tipi, with up to 120 people for dining and 200 guests for the evening reception.

Whatever you choose you’re sure to capture a great selection of memories with your Dovecote Events wedding photographer.

Portrait opportunities with your Dovecote Events wedding photographer

Bo Peep Farm is a location with numerous stunning portrait opportunities for you and your Oxford wedding photographer. I’ve shot here twice yet have barely scratched the surface.

In mid-July, I found the light to be flattering from around 3.30-4pm onwards. I always recommend holding your ceremony as late in the day as possible to get the best light you can for photos. It also allows you to take advantage of sunset and twilight opportunities.

Sunset photo with your Oxford wedding photographer

The closer you get to sunset, the more beautiful Bo Peep Farm becomes. From open Oxford countryside vistas of the setting sun to sun rays streaming through canopied treetops, you’re spoilt for locations.

At night, the pathway leading to and around the tipi, along with the outside of the Dovecote barn are lit up with fairy lights. If you’ve booked your Oxfordshire wedding photographer for later in the day, you could be in for a treat with the night time photo opportunities.

For my wedding in July, I was only booked until sunset so I’ve yet to create some night shots at Dovecote Events.

As an aside, if you would like night portraits near the tipi, I’d recommend adding some lights and decorations to the arbour at the beginning of the pathway to your tipi, see below.

First dance and guest photography | Dovecote Events wedding photographer

For evening entertainment, the tipi offers a dedicated space for dancing with either a DJ or a live band providing the entertainment. Interestingly, the lighting in this area is pretty much left to the entertainer(s). In my photos below, you can see that the DJ provided a selection of coloured LED uplighters.

My classic wedding photography package gives you eight hours coverage with your Dovecote Events wedding photographer. If you’re getting married in mid-summer and you’d like to include night portraits as well, you may need to add a more time. You can add up one or two hours to any of my packages.

Dovecote Events is a fabulous wedding venue. You can find more information about Dovecote Events weddings, here https://www.dovecoteevents.uk/weddings#dovecote-barn

Dovecote Events
Bo Peep Farm
Aynho Road
ADDERBURY Oxfordshire OX17 3NP

[email protected]
01295 816 566

If you’re looking for a Dovecote Events wedding photographer and you’d like to know more about my wedding packages visit my Pricing page

You can see more examples of my work by visiting my Oxford wedding photographer page.